Archive for Pride

Revelation: Sardis…”But You Are Dead”

Posted in Prophecy, Revelation with tags , , , , , on July 15, 2017 by paulthepoke

Revelation 3:1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead…

…you have a name…The Greek word is ονομα/onoma. Strong’s Concordance defines onoma as: the name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one’s rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds etc.

The church at Sardis thought they were a big deal. They had a lofty impression of their local body. Believers in Sardis had a self-proclaimed reputation of tremendous character. Just ask them. The name of Sardis was full of pride.

“This is the church at Sardis! We are hot stuff and welcome to our exclusive Country Club!”

…that you are alive…The church at Sardis was ζαο/zao in the Greek. The syntax of the verse indicates they viewed themselves in a continual state of greatness. They perceived themselves to have an abundant zeal for Christian living and lifestyle. The local body in Sardis thought they were the model church, refreshing with vitality. Humility was not a strong suit.

Zao is defined as: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead); to have true life and worthy of the name; active, blessed, endless in the kingdom of God; living water, having vital power in itself and exerting the same upon the soul. Metaphorically: to be in full vigor; to be fresh, strong, and efficient. (Strong’s Concordance)

 

There is how a church or a believer views themselves, then there is how Jesus assesses the situation.

…but you are dead. Jesus said those in Sardis were νεκροσ/nekros. Here is the word defined by Strongs’: One that has breathed his last, lifeless; deceased, departed, one whose soul is in heaven or hell; destitute of life, without life, inanimate. Metaphorically: spiritually dead; destitute of a life that recognizes and is devoted to God, because given up to trespasses and sins; inactive as respects doing right; destitute of force or power, inactive, inoperative.

The church at Sardis viewed itself in a continual state of life and living. Jesus viewed the local believers in a continual state of physical and spiritual death. Jesus saw them as a group who had been turned over to their sins. The two views stood in complete, polar opposites.

The practical application for us as believers is to get over our inflated opinions of self. What Jesus thinks of us is more important than how we see ourselves.

 

 

Rapture compressedhttps://www.smashwords.com/books/view/731160

Available in ebook and paperback at Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Rapture+Bride+Redeemed

Also available online at Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, and Inktera

 

Leave a comment »

Pride…I Know Best

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , , , on August 9, 2015 by paulthepoke

Pride is the intention of the heart that is in contrast to the will of God.

big-deal-ron-burgundy

As men, we like to put things together. We like to build, assemble, fix stuff, do it yourself projects, and in general tinker. The challenge lies in that can we complete the task correctly without reading the directions! Do we have the skill and problem solving ability to do it on our own? Who needs directions, we are men! This is the attitude of self-reliance, individualism. We jump in, we separate the parts. We analyze what goes where. One hour later, the project is not completed. We are frustrated, irritated, and crabby. We might say and do things we will later regret. Then we remember. If all else fails, read the directions. If we would have set aside our pride and arrogance from the beginning, we might not have needlessly suffered the personal frustration. And we may have spared someone else from our short comings. It is this same pride that prevents us from turning to God’s word and His will for us. Man often thinks that his way is better than God’s way. He is the creator of the universe. He gave us the handbook for life’s trials in the Bible. He programmed us and He knows what is best for us. The issue is, will we set aside our pride and submit to God’s will?

In Scripture, there are many words that are synonymous with pride. Some of these include arrogance, haughtiness, grandeur, loftiness, pomp, strut, and swelling. This attitude is not one that God cares for.

Proverbs 16:5, Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; assuredly, he will not be unpunished.

Satan’s pride and mental attitude cost him his appointed position by God in Ezekiel 28:17. He was proud because of his beauty. God knew Satan’s attitude in Isaiah 14:13-14, Satan’s five “I will” statements. Satan wanted to be like God. He wanted to do it his way and not God’s way. Satan believed he could accomplish great things outside of the will of God. This attitude, ultimately, does not work out well for Satan. He had it all, a position of power, perfection, wealth, and wisdom. Yet, his pride caused him to fall.

It is our nature to turn away from God and try to do it ourselves. In general, we do not want any help.

Isaiah 53:6, All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way. Without God’s direction, we are without hope. Doing things our way, is not effective.

http://paulthepoke.com/2012/07/29/ezekiel-2812-19-pride-original-sin/

http://paulthepoke.com/2012/08/05/results-of-pride/

Proverbs 14:12, There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

Leave a comment »

Isaiah 10:12-14 Assyrian Arrogance, Part 2

Posted in Isaiah with tags , , , , , , , on October 13, 2013 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 10:12 So it will be that when the Lord has completed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the pomp of his haughtiness.”

This verse brings to a close the judgment on Israel. The series of four judgments began in Isaiah 9:12. God is proclaiming that His current job in Jerusalem is finished. The phrase, In spite of all this, His anger does not turn away and His hand is still stretched out…, has been completed four times and has come to a close.

Adonai is the Hebrew term that is translated “Lord”. It can mean ruler, master, owner, or sovereign. The word is plural. When Adonai is the term for God, it indicates His absolute sovereignty and greatness (The Doctrine of God, Chester McCalley). God is in charge and not the king of Assyria.

God’s punishment will be directed towards the “fruit” or children of the king.

Look at the adjectives and other translations and how they describe the king of Assyria.

The king’s heart is described as prideful and insolent. The pride is great in magnificence and magnitude. His haughtiness and arrogance are described as glorious and splendorous.

Isaiah 10:13-14 For he has said, “By the power of my hand and by my wisdom I did this, For I have understanding; and I removed the boundaries of the peoples and plundered their treasures, and like a mighty man I brought down their inhabitants, and my hand reached to the riches of the peoples like a nest, and as one gathers abandoned eggs, I gathered all the earth; and there was not one that flapped its wing or opened its beak or chirped.”

Here is a direct quote from the king of Assyria. God is directly quoting the king. Look at the number of times “my” and “I” are used. “My” is noted three times. “I” is noted five times. This guy is a real team player. He did it all by himself.

The king sees himself as a strong and brilliant leader. There are no boundaries for this guy. He goes where he wants. He admits he steals from others from all of the earth. He brags about conquering and looting. He takes whatever he pleases. No one can contest him as he sees it. This guy is a real leader recognizing the efforts of those around him and supporting him, not!

Leave a comment »

Isaiah 10:5-11 Assyrian Arrogance, Part 1

Posted in Isaiah with tags , , , , , , , , , , on October 6, 2013 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 10:5-7 Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger and the staff in whose hands is My indignation I send it against a godless nation and commission it against the people of My fury to capture booty and to seize plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets. Yet it does not so intend, nor does it plan so in its heart, but rather it is its purpose to destroy and to cut off many nations.

Assyria is described as a “shebet”. That is the Hebrew word for rod, staff, branch, shaft (of spear, dart), club (of shepherd’s implement), or a scepter (mark of authority) per Strong’s Concordance. In today’s vernacular, a whoopin’ stick!

Assyria is the beating stick in God’s hand. He is in control of Assyria. God is going to use Assyria as a stick to punish His godless people. Their job is to pack them down like mud in the street.

Notice, it is the mental attitude that leads to its conquest for power and expansion. See the words “intend”, “plan…in its heart”, and “purpose”. These are mental words of thought. Assyria is calculating and devising from the inner part of their soul, mind, and conscience according to the language and Hebrew vocabulary.

The “stick” has other ideas. Israel is not enough. The “rod” wants more and history shows us how Assyria expanded. The Assyrians built an empire that stretched from Egypt on the southwest to Persia (modern day Iran) on the east and from the Persian Gulf on the southeast to Anatolia (modern day Turkey) on the north.

Isaiah 10:8-11 For it says, “Are not my princes all kings? Is not Calno like Carchemish, or Hamath like Arpad, or Samaria like Damascus? As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols, whose graven images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria, shall I not do to Jerusalem and her images just as I have done to Samaria and her idols?”

At this point, God reminds Assyrian leadership of his boastful and arrogant attitude. Calno, Carchemish, Hamath, Arpad, Samaria, and Damascus are city states that were conquered by the Assyrian Empire (NET Bible). Assyrian leadership is reminding God of their resume. They have handled these places in the past and they can handle Jerusalem.

“We have conquered powers greater than Israel and little Jerusalem,” Assyria. They are effectively telling God that He cannot stop Assyria. This is a shot at God’s sovereignty and power. Assyria has handled other countries and their “gods”. We can handle Jerusalem and their “god”. We, Assyria are in control. This is the mindset.

This also speaks to how Assyria saw Israel. They saw Israel as a nation who worshipped idols. They did not see Israel as a country who was worshipping God of the Bible.

Assyria did not ultimately realize they were going up against the Creator. God is in charge and Assyria is in the palm of God’s hand.

Leave a comment »

Isaiah 9:8-10 The Cost of Pride

Posted in Isaiah with tags , , , , , , , , on July 21, 2013 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 9:8-10 The Lord sends a message against Jacob, and it falls on Israel. And all the people know it, That is, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, asserting in pride and in arrogance of heart: “The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with smooth stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.”

God is very specific to who He is communicating, Israel. Judgment is coming.

Ephraim and Samaria are located due north of Jerusalem and west of the Jordan River.

The mental attitude is, “We will build it bigger and stronger”. This is a temporary setback. Majesty, greatness, and magnificence are their intentions.  One could say we see this same attitude in our world today. Look at the response of humanity to natural disasters. Engineering is geared to withstand massive quakes and hurricanes with the belief buildings and bridges can survive acts of God.

They upgrade their materials from bricks to smooth stones. Bricks were the most primitive material used in the construction of homes. Prominent cities utilized stone for their fortified walls, temples, grain silos, and buildings. Stone construction was a symbol of strength and technological development. Personal houses and dwellings that were built with stone indicated wealth (The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times).

The wood used is higher in quality from sycamore to cedar. Sycamore trees were abundant. Sycamore lumber was long lasting and light. Cedar wood was choice for architectural uses. The wood of the cedar is disease resistant and slow to decay. Cedar was a valuable and stout wood. The temple was primarily constructed with cedar (New Unger’s Bible Dictionary).

Israel uses the best materials available. This is not going to matter. It did not work for Edom either…Malachi 1:4a Though Edom says, “We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up the ruins”; thus says the LORD of hosts, “They may build, but I will tear down…

Leave a comment »

Results of Pride

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , on August 5, 2012 by paulthepoke

Proverbs 16:5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; assuredly, he will not be unpunished.

Pride is a punishable offense and it must be dealt with.

Romans 1:22-23 Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

Is this a sign of the times or what? Look at our 21st century culture. We worship ourselves. Secular humanism is a religion of American culture. We are very tolerant. We are into worshiping animals, trees. It is worship of the creation or Pantheism. The smarter we think we are, the more foolish we bcome in the eyes of God. Worship whatever, just not God of the Bible.

Galatians 6:3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

We have all seen the type. Someone who thinks they are better than someone else. Who knows what the reason is. Some may think they are better because of their smarts, money, looks, or the car they drive. Gods says this does not define who you are. What man values as something, God states it is nothing. It is this mindset of being “a big deal”. It causes self-deception.

Proverbs 30:12 There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, yet is not washed from his filthiness.

These people are as pure as the wind driven snow. They have no faults. They look in the mirror and see perfection. Look at all the good things they have done. Their accomplishments, they have told us. We must understand; they are a blessing to mankind.  One small problem, they are human. They still sin. They cannot solve their sin issue on their own accord with a perfect and holy God.

Proverbs 29:23a A man’s pride will bring him low…

The mental attitude will cause the down fall. Dishonor is the result.

Proverbs 28:25a An arrogant man stirs up strife…

This attitude leads to arguments, contention, quarrels, and debates.

Proverbs 21:4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

This type of attitude cultivates sin. There is a figurative agricultural reference in the Hebrew.

Proverbs 21:24 “Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names, who acts with insolent pride.

The Hebrew indicates there is an overabundance and overflow of presumptuousness and arrogance in the verse. Prideful mental attitude results in prideful actions.

Proverbs 26:12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

The self-proclaimed mentally elite, they are very smart. The simpletons and dummies the brilliant mock and make fun of have more of a chance according to God. The genius would scoff and shrug God’s commentary off in self-confidence.

Proverbs 26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can give a discreet answer.

The sluggard is the kind of person who lays around and does nothing. They view the world from their couch with remote in hand and have all the answers. The lazy know more than everybody else, just ask them. They see the complex world with unbelievable clarity. The sluggard darn sure knows more than experts. The irony of the proverb is the one who is doing nothing thinks they are great applying what they know. It is all just talk.

Proverbs 15:25a The LORD will tear down the house of the proud…

One will not find security in their fancy home.

3 Comments »

Ezekiel 28:12-19 Pride, Original Sin?

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , , , , , , , , , on July 29, 2012 by paulthepoke

Ezekiel 28:12 “Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “You had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

Who is this King of Tyre God is talking about? Is this figurative language or is this a real personality? I would challenge all who read this to come to a decision independently.  Think about it. God describes this being as perfect in wisdom and beauty. This being is the most beautiful thing created. This being is also the best at taking knowledge and functionally applying that information. This is how God describes this being, the essence of good looks and smarts. The “king” had God’s stamp of approval.

Ezekiel 28:13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. 

Wait a minute, there were only three characters in Eden according to the Genesis account: a man, a woman, and a serpent. The man and the woman were without possessions prior to the fall. They were naked. Humanity had no clothing.

This creature being discussed in verse 13 has extravagant material wealth and possessions. He has every precious jewel and the jewels are placed in gold. He has significant riches and in need of nothing. He is not only clothed, he has the finest. The best was given to him from day one. He did nothing to earn them. God’s grace materially blessed this creature from the beginning. 

Ezekiel 28:14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers, and I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked in the midst of the stones of fire.

This being was created with a purpose. He was to rule and guard, specifically God’s separate mountain. He was placed to watch over God’s property by God Himself. He was given authority and power. He was in charge.

Ezekiel 28:15 “You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you.

He was originally made perfect and without sin. He got off to a good start. Then sin and perversion was identified by God within him. It was his mental attitude. God knows what we are thinking.

Ezekiel 28:16 “By the abundance of your trade you were internally filled with violence, and you sinned; therefore I have cast you as profane from the mountain of God. And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

Because of his greed and need for more and more and more, his attitude and being were consumed with aggression. He was kicked off the mountain of God because of self-pollution and desecration.

Ezekiel 28:17 “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I put you before kings, that they may see you.

He thought he was better because he was “good looking”. He used his beauty and appearance to manipulate others with his reasoning. He was persuasive.

Ezekiel 28:18 You defiled your sanctuaries with your many sins and your dishonest trade. So I brought fire from within you, and it consumed you. I let it burn you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. 

His depravity and sin polluted and desecrated holy places. Unjust, violent, and corrupt trade practices were the norm. He was initially granted the ability to judge and preside over God’s property. Fire is a symbol and instrument of judgment in the Bible. This character is being stripped of his ability to judge and stripped of his instrument of judgment, fire.

Ezekiel 28:19 “All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have become terrified and you will cease to be forever.”

All the destruction, violence, and dread that has been brought upon others… The tables will ultimately be turned. The irony, he was created with the power to judge by fire. Now, he will be eternally judged by fire. Who is thrown into the Lake of fire in Revelation 20:10 for all eternity?

5 Comments »

Isaiah 5:15-17,21 God’s View on Pride

Posted in Isaiah with tags , , , , , on July 24, 2012 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 5:15-17 So the common man will be humbled and the man of importance abased, the eyes of the proud also will be abased. But the LORD of hosts will be exalted in judgment, and the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness. Then the lambs will graze as in their pasture, and strangers will eat in the waste places of the wealthy. 

Isaiah 5:21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight! 

V. 15 The context of the verse is all of humanity. It does not matter if you are an everyday Joe or a hot shot. The idea of the grammar in Hebrew is men are being brought to humility. The point is repeated a second time to make sure the idea is understood.

V. 16 God is set apart, separate, or holy. He has the moral clout to execute justice. He is a truthful, capable, and justified ruler.

V. 17 There is debate whether the language in this verse is figurative or literal. Hebrew Linguists indicate the text literally reads, “Young rams, and ruins, fatlings, resident aliens, will eat.” Will strangers really eat in places where the rich used to live? Will the rich have their places destroyed? The bottom line is this. Animals and people are eating in locations that are not their usual places to dine.

God takes pride seriously. Just ask King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The king was full of himself and thought he was the source of all of his success and power. Nebuchadnezzar had not finished his statement on his self-proclaimed greatness when Daniel 4:31-33 provides a reminder of who is in charge.

“While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you, and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.’

 “Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws…”

Some would say this is just a crazy story from the Bible. You may want to consider there are real psychological disorders where people think they are animals. Check out zoanthropy and lycanthropy. More specifically, boanthropy is a condition where individuals think they are cattle. The king’s diet was grass like cattle. The king was not accustomed to a diet of grass.

This episode did ultimately result in a change of attitude for King Nebuchadnezzar. He came to understand God was in charge (Daniel 4:34-37).

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.

2 Comments »

Isaiah 2:11-12 Pride Will Be Humbled

Posted in Isaiah with tags , , on January 22, 2012 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 2:11-12 The proud look of man will be abased and the loftiness of man will be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. For the LORD of hosts will have a day of reckoning against everyone who is proud and lofty and against everyone who is lifted up, that he may be abased.

In general, the remainder of Isaiah Chapter 2 is about those who are going to get knocked off their pedestal. Functional examples in the world (natural or man made) known for their greatness are used as points of comparison. They too will be destroyed. There will be a day or reckoning with the Lord.

V. 11 Notice the description of humanity in this verse. Man is described as haughty, arrogant, proud, and high. This is how God describes humanity. The result is man will be humbled, brought low, abased, and humiliated. Proud man will “bow down”.  But the Lord will be the One bringing about the change. His position is to be inaccessibly high, to be safely set on high, and to be exalted of God.  Definitions in this verse were provided by Strong’s Concordance.

v. 12 The point is restated. The proud will be humbled by the Lord.

God makes direct statements Himself regarding “the proud” in Job and Malachi. These are two of many examples in Scripture. He does not tolerate pride or “ego” as we call it in today’s vernacular.

Job 40:12 “Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him, and tread down the wicked where they stand.”

Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.”

2 Comments »

%d bloggers like this: